ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu was on mission to Brussels

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habipoğlu was on mission to Brussels on 5 November 2013. Accompanied by the ABTTF Brussels Representation, Habipoğlu met Brussels-based civil society organisations, business world representatives and members of the European Parliament.

ABTTF met ENAR, the leading organisation in fight against racism

Having had a meeting with Michael Privot, Director of European Network Against Racism (ENAR), Brussels-based leading civil society organisation for anti-discrimination and fight against racism, Halit Habipoğlu uttered the problems Western Thrace Turkish Minority faces in Greece and informed on the activities carried on by ABTTF on the international arena for contributing to settlement of the ongoing problems. ENAR Director Michael Privot informed on future campaigns ENAR is planning to hold in relation to racism and xenophobia in 2014 and indicated that the support of the national and autochthonous minorities in Europe to the respective campaigns would constitute a significant improvement for efforts to curtail increasing extremism.

Habipoğlu met MUSIAD Brussels Representative Alperen Özdemir

The Brussels mission of ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu included a meeting with Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) Brussels Representative Mustafa Alperen Özdemir. Having explained the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority to the Brussels representative of the business association operational in 60 countries and in service through 143 branches, Habipoğlu reiterated the urgent need for investments in Western Thrace, a region in economic crisis driven Greece and forming the borderline with Turkey.

ABTTF President discussed Minority’s problems with Members of the European Parliament

Having had meetings with Members of the European Parliament Nils Torvalds (Finland), Alajos Meszaros (Slovakia) and François Alfonsi (France), ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu expressed problems Western Thrace Turkish Minority encounters in terms of access to education and religious freedom. In the aftermath of Golden Dawn’s election to the Hellenic Parliament, Western Thrace Turkish Minority has become one of the targets of the extremist party, hence the extreme right which is in rise in Europe should be curtailed, said Habipoğlu. Furthermore, Habipoğlu called for cooperation with national minorities in efforts to fight against racism that the EP elections to be held in 2014 would require great responsibility and common sense of politicians.